Over the past year, occupational therapy in Georgia has seen meaningful progress in professional connection. As a growing field in the country, our community continues to build momentum through collaborative projects and initiatives designed to foster learning, visibility and connection both locally and globally.
Below are three highlights from this year’s efforts to showcase “OT in action” in Georgia.
OT-Ilia Podcast: Exploring the Intersections of Practice and Education
The OT-Ilia podcast, developed in collaboration with Tamta Tchagalidze and Ana Revazishvili, completed its second season this year. The Georgian-language series brings together educators, students, and practitioners to explore specific fields of occupational therapy with the recent series dedicated to paediatrics.
Each episode looks at the interplay between education and practice, seeking to discover, analyse and reflect on existing links, strengths and potential areas for growth. These conversations not only highlight current approaches, such as early childhood development, feeding, accessibility, and community-based interventions, but also invite listeners to consider how educational programs and clinical realities inform one another.
By creating space for open dialogue, the podcast promotes a deeper understanding of what is working, what could be improved, and how collaboration across roles can elevate both professional preparation and service delivery. The post cast can be accessed here.
Georgia’s First National OT Symposium: A New Chapter for Community Growth
This year also marked a significant milestone: Georgia’s first Occupational Therapy Symposium, organized collaboratively by and for our local OT community. Practitioners, educators, recent graduates and students gathered to share knowledge, celebrate achievements and set the tone for future collaboration.
Highlights included thesis presentations from recent graduates and a poster session featuring creative mini-projects from first-year students. A closing workshop “The Year of OT in Action” led by Tamta Tchagalidze and Ana Landia, invited participants to come together and plan ahead for future professional growth.
This event laid the foundation for what we hope will become an annual tradition for Georgia’s occupational therapy community.
“OT Tsobis Purtseli” Newsletter: Local knowledge created by shared commitment
Now in its third year, the “OT Tsobis Purtseli” newsletter (translated as “OT newspage”) continues to serve as an important platform for connection. Written entirely in Georgian, it brings together local, regional, and international updates, educational opportunities and professional reflections - all with the goal of supporting greater accessibility and visibility of occupational therapy in the country.
The newsletter is a true volunteer effort, created by a team of dedicated students and practitioners who collect and organize content. The continued success of this initiative speaks to the deep motivation within the community to stay informed, connected and inspired. Access the newsletter here.